Dangerous Creatures (Book 3, Pure Series) (12 page)

              "I think I'd better sit down, too," Branden said. "I have a tendency to tower over people."

              He sat down on the other side of Charisse, and Simon remained standing.

              "Okay, so spill," Charisse said.

              The three of them were staring at me, and their sudden attention worked to shatter what was left of my composure. I could feel tears beginning to sting my eyes.

              "Is it that William guy?" Simon asked.

              "Simon, please," Charisse said. "Let Katie talk."

              "It's not William," I said unsteadily. "William is doing everything he can to help."

              "Sure he is," Simon said.

              "Simon!" Charisse said. "Go on, Katie."

              "It's GM," I said. "She's missing."

              Charisse frowned. "What do you mean she's missing?"

              "Last night, I went for a walk with William," I said. "And when we came home, she was gone. Her car was still there, her purse was still there, and the house hadn't been broken into. But GM was just gone. She didn't return all night. As of this morning, she's still missing."

              "Oh, Katie," Charisse said.

              "And your grandmother was in the house when you went out for your walk?" Simon asked.

              "Yes," I said. "We'd had dinner not too long before."

              "Well, I suppose that lets this William guy out," Simon said. "He can hardly have kidnapped your grandmother while he was out with you."

              "Simon!" Charisse said sharply. She turned back to me. "What did you do, Katie? Did you call the police?"

              "No, I didn't call the police," I said.

              "Katie!" Charisse said. "You have to call the police. You can't possibly believe you can find your grandmother on your own. You are going to call them, aren't you?"

              "I don't think there's anything the police can do."

              "Katie, that's crazy," Charisse said. "Promise me you'll call them."

              She gave me a long, earnest look, and I sighed.

              "I promise I'll call the police," I said.

              "And what are you going to do about where you're staying?" Charisse asked.

              "What do you mean?" I said.

              "If your grandmother isn't found today," she said, "where are you going to stay tonight? You can't stay in your house all alone."

              I was perfectly happy to stay at my house with William, but I knew that telling Charisse that would only upset her.

              "I'll figure it out," I said. "I'm sure the police can advise me on that."

              "Well, if the police are okay with it," Charisse said, "I think you should come stay with me."

              "Uh, no offense, Charisse," Simon began.

              Charisse sighed. "Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like what you're going to say?"

              "It's just that—it's just you and your mom," Simon said. "Your household is two women."

              "So what?" Charisse said.

              Simon turned to me. "Katie, you should come to stay with me. At my house, my dad, my mom, James, and I can all look out for you."

              "I'd offer to let you stay at my house, too," Branden interjected, "but I have a feeling that these two will be too busy fighting over you to allow it."

              "My mom's a lawyer," Charisse said, ignoring Branden. "She knows a thing or two about standing up for other people."

              "I'm sure she does," Simon said. "In a courtroom. But an actual, physical threat is a different matter entirely. There are three guys at my house. It'll be safer for Katie there."

              "My house actually has the most guys," Branden said. "There's five or six of us on any given day. Sometimes there are as many as seven. I'd point that out, but I don't think it's going to matter."

              Charisse bristled. "My mom knows taekwondo."

              "Which is great in the movies," Simon said.

              "Guys, please," I said. "I appreciate the offers, I really do. But I don't know what's going on right now. I may even have to clear things with the police."

              "We just want to help," Simon said.

              The warning bell rang, and Charisse stood up.

              "Come on, Katie," she said briskly. "Let's go inside."

              I could tell that Charisse wanted to keep an eye on me for as long as possible—and I wanted to go inside anyway—so I let her steer me into the school. I went inside with the others, and we all paused at the door to my homeroom.

              As soon as Charisse released her hold on me, Branden wrapped me up in an all-enveloping hug that completely obscured my vision.

              "Hang in there, Katie."

              "Thanks, Branden," I said in a muffled voice.

              Branden shuffled off, and it was Simon's turn to hug me.

              "You can always come to my house if you need to," he said. "You know my parents would love to have you."

              "Thanks, Simon."

              He smiled at me and walked off.

              "Don't let Simon pressure you," Charisse said. "You stay with the person you want to stay with."

              "Thanks, Charisse."

              She hugged me and then walked off into the crowd.

              Once she was gone, I turned away from the classroom and headed down the hallway.

              I was going to try the boiler room again.

              I hurried to the little hall that led to the lower floors, and then I ran down the stairs to the metal door of the boiler room. But this time when I tried the door, I found that it was locked.

              "David," I whispered to the door. "David, are you there? I know you can hear me even through the door. David?"

              There was no answer.

              "Is anyone there? Anyone at all?" I whispered. "I know someone was in here yesterday. And I know you're a vampire. I've received all your messages, and I want to hear what you have to say. Just come out and talk to me. I really need your help."

              There was still no answer.

              I rattled the doorknob furiously then, and when that produced no effect, I pounded on the door, ignoring the pain I felt in my hands when I did so. I pounded on and on, and I could hear the sound of it reverberating in the hall.

              But there was no answer from the boiler room.

              Eventually, I sat down on the floor and leaned my back against the wall. I told myself that all I needed to do was wait for a little while and someone would come.

              But time passed, and the hall remained empty. No one was coming.

              I was forced to give up on the boiler room, and I got to my feet.

              I decided to try Bryony's grandmother's house then—a vampire had visited us there once. Perhaps one might do so again.

              I hurried out to the student parking lot, mindful of Terrance's warning about the parking sticker, and I was relieved to see that GM's car was still in its spot, gleaming in the April sunshine.

              I got in the car and quickly sped off.

              I drove to the white farmhouse in the Old Grove where Bryony's grandmother lived, and I got out of the car. But once again, I found a locked door. I walked around the house, trying to find another way in, but the back door was locked, too. I peered into the windows and banged on the glass, but I couldn't rouse any response from the house.

              Both the house and the school were dead ends.

              I called William then, and to my relief he answered—I'd been half afraid that he would be too busy to do so.

              "I'm coming home now," I said.

              "Did you find anything?" William asked.

              "No. Did you?"

              "No," William replied. "I'll meet you back at the house in a few minutes."

              I got back in the car and drove home with a heavy heart.

              William was waiting outside when I arrived, and we went into the house together.

              "You look tired," William said.

              I made an effort to smile. "I'm fine."

              "No, you're not," he said. "Have you eaten anything today?"

              "No."

              "Come on," William said. "We'll sit down, and you'll eat something."

              He led me into the kitchen.

              While I picked at a peanut butter sandwich, I told William first about Maksim, and then about what had happened at school—including my conversation with Simon, Charisse, and Branden.

              "I agree with Simon," William said when I had finished my story.

              I looked up at him, startled. "You do?"

              "I think you should go and stay with someone. And I think Simon's house is the best option."

              "Why would you say that?" I asked.

              "It sounds like Branden's household is pretty busy," William said. "No one would be keeping an eye on you there. And Charisse's house has proved to be vulnerable before—her mother
was
once in the thrall of a vampire. It seems to me that at Simon's house, everyone will be paying attention to you. You'll be protected there."

              I had to admit that when William set things out that way, it did seem to make sense. And he was right about Charisse—last year her mother had actually been dating a vampire who was out to get me. Simon's house really did seem to be the best option. But I didn't want to stay with anyone.

              "Why can't I just stay here with you?" I asked.

              "Because I have something to do—something I have to find."

              "Without me," I said.

              "Without you," William replied. "It has to be without you. While you're safe, your grandmother is safe. What I have to do isn't safe."

              "Whatever it is, I can help," I said.

              William shook his head. "You're a normal girl, Katie. You can't help in this situation."

              "I'm not quite normal," I said.

              "For all intents and purposes you are," William replied. "You have a power you can't use. Without that you have no protection. And even when you had it, it was never any use against vampires anyway."

              "So you want me to give up looking for my grandmother?"

              "I have to give up looking for her, too—at least for the moment."

              "What?" I said. "We can't give up on GM. We can't just—"

              "Wait," William said. "Just hear me out. You have to stay here until your grandmother is found, and I respect that. That means you can't go to your mother's house in Russia—where you would be safe. But the Hunter is still coming. At the moment, I have no idea how to stop him. If he comes, and I have no way to fight him, neither you nor your grandmother will be safe. But I have heard some news—I think I know of something that can be used against the Hunter."

              "You mean, like a weapon?" I said. "Is that what you're planning to go looking for?"

              William shook his head. "I don't want to say anything just yet. I haven't actually found anything. At the moment, what I'm looking for is just a rumor."

              "You can still tell me what it is," I said.

              "I'll tell you if I find it," William said. "I don't want to get your hopes—or mine—up too soon."

              "It's frustrating not knowing," I said.

              "It's for the best, Katie," William replied. "You asked if you could have two days, and one of those two days has passed. Let me have the other day just to look."

              I sighed. "Charisse wants me to call the police."

              "I think you should do that, too," William said. "The more eyes on you, the better."

              "Fine," I said. "I'll call Simon. I'll call the police. I'll stay here."

              "Thank you," William said. "It'll be easier for me if I know you're safe."

              I called the police then, and an officer came out to the house. His name was George Hale, and he was the same police officer William and I had seen the night of the carnival. He talked to me in his friendly, paternal way, and then he took William outside and questioned him alone.